Movable animals: Birds

Creating effective topics for class within only few steps isn’t always easy. However, especially first and second graders can easily be motivated to cutting and painting tasks by creative ideas.

Due to its flexible limbs, the parrot can move effectively. The background has been colored on green colored paper with Pelikan water-colors.

Moreover, the childrens’ motor functions can be supported by these exercises and they also receive a playful introduction into the world of mechanics. By gluing several animals beside each other, you can even perform simple motion studies.

Bonus handicraft template: the seagull. In our example the bird was attached to a photograph with a round head fastener.

And this is how it works:

Print out the download template.

Carefully cut out the required parts along the lines.Now you can use the “Movable animal” in different ways:

Draw some of the outlines of the animals beside and over each other. This way you create the impression that the animal is moving

Create colorful silhouettes for an artwork

Create an own background or use a photograph and attach the animal to it with the round head fasteners

However you decide, this is how to proceed next:

Color the “Movable animal” with the Colorella duo fibre-tip pens.

Design a colorful background for the animal. Draw big leaves and blossoms in different shades of green.

Then the animal must be put together and attached to the background with the round head fasteners. For this purpose punch holes through the particular hole-markings, lay the corresponding parts on top of each other and attach them to one another and to the background with a roundhead fastener.

The parrot has found its place on a leaf. Now the head and the wings can always be turned into a different position.

Tip: The single body parts should move easily. This way the position of the body can be changed later on and the animal assumes another character.

Further fields of application:

The parrot as a silhouette.Simple motion study and colorful art object.